Friday, May 20, 2011

And so it begins...

The weather is heating up, baseball season is in full swing and barbecues and pool parties are starting to clutter the calendar again. Summer is back, baby! Of course, if you're trying to shed pounds, you might not be rejoicing in the return of skimpy shorts and tank tops. Or the temptation of so many unwanted fat and calories from the food and booze served at those festive gatherings. However, there are ways to avoid gaining weight while still enjoying a quality summer party. Check out these tips from sucralose.org.

Choose your marinades wisely. Using sauces such as Worcestershire, Chile, Soy, or light Italian dressing in place of salt or heavy sauces will add a lot of flavor with a few calories. If you are looking to flavor with spices, try garlic, onion powder, or chili powder. If sweet taste is what you are going for add a little fruit juice to the marinade. This will add a sweet taste while also tenderizing the meat. Also, a low-calorie sweetener such as sucralose can help sweeten a marinade without the added calories.Think beyond just meat. Barbecues don’t have to be a meat lover’s paradise. Try one of the sauces/seasonings listed above on steak or chicken skewers. In between each piece of meat add pineapple, mushrooms, peppers, or any other fruit or vegetable you and your family or friends enjoy. Cut the veggies into sizes that will cook well on the grill and then grill them for about 8 – 10 minutes. If you like seafood, shrimp or fish could be a great option for grilling whole or making into skewers.When grilling chicken, make sure you remove all the skin. The skin of the chicken is where most of the saturated fat is found so removing the skin will remove this unwanted fat as well. If you are a chicken skin lover consider this: 4 ounces of grilled chicken breast with skin contains 8.8 grams of fat and 2.5 grams of saturated fat 4 ounces of grilled chicken breast without skin contains 4 grams of fat and 1.2 grams of saturated fat. Be sure to take the skin off before adding the marinade so you don’t lose the flavor along with the skin. When cooking other types of meat be sure to choose the leanest cuts possible and trim additional fat before cooking.Portion distortion is still a problem on the grill. If you are making skewers, cut the meat in small pieces with loads of vegetables in between. If you are making burgers or steak, think “tapas” and cut them into smaller appetizer portions before cooking. For every piece of meat you have, try to have an equal amount of vegetable.Traditional barbecues are centered on grilling meat, but don’t forget about the sides. Complement your meat with a healthful pasta salad made with whole wheat pasta and light Italian dressing. Or, going along with the tapas theme, make some mini appetizers such as bruschetta, hummus with olive oil and whole wheat pita, low fat artichoke dip, or a veggie tray. Take advantage of the delicious fruits in season and provide a fruit tray and a yogurt dipping sauce sweetened with sucralose for a low-calorie dessert that is sure to satisfy all your guests!

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About Me

I'm a former print reporter who recently moved into the world of communications for the slightly larger paycheck and increased work stability. By day, I work for several associations - including the Calorie Control Council - and attempt to bring a little humor into the non-profit sector. By night, I can be found visiting cheap ethnic restaurants, dive bars with a diverse draft selection or trying to find one of the three cabs that seem to circulate around Atlanta. I'm writing this blog to chronicle my recent adoption of a healthier, sugar-free lifestyle as well as to encourage others to take similar steps. For both personal and professional reasons, I aim to stay informed about the latest low-calorie lifestyle news, research and trends. If you're looking for tips and advice on sugar-free eating, as well as pithy observations on a range of topics, then you're visiting the right blog!